Acute Pancreatitis In Children

Abstract

Twenty-Nine Children With Acute Pancreatitis Were Managed During The Period 1971 To 1983. Aetiology Included Trauma (5), Mumps (5), Drug Therapy (4), Biliary Disease (1), And Cystic Fibrosis (1); 13 Cases Were Classified As Idiopathic. Diagnosis Could Be Difficult, And Unnecessary Laparotomies Were Performed In 7 Instances For Suspected Appendicitis. One Patient, However, Had A Well-Justified Laparotomy Revealing Coexisting Severe Appendicitis And Pancreatitis. Morbidity Included Relapses (7), Pseudocysts (3), Obstructive Duodenal Hematoma (1), And Miscellaneous Problems (4). Improvements In Management Included Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (Ercp) To Exclude Anatomical Anomalies In Relapsing Cases, Ultrasonography For The Diagnosis Of Pseudocysts And For Follow-Up Measurements In Two Such Cases Successfully Managed Conservatively, And Increasing Use Of Total Parenteral Nutrition In Cases With Protracted Disease Of Serious Complications.